Late medieval · Hindu · India

Vamaneeswarar Temple

Tirumanikuzhi, Tamil Nadu · 11.7374°, 79.6836°

Shiva (Vamaneeswarar), with Parvati as Manonmani AmmanCholaDravidianPaadal Petra Sthalam

Sacred since

985 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

16th c. masonry; Chola-era shrine

Chola

History & significance

A Shiva temple near Cuddalore counted among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the Tevaram hymns. Its inscriptions run from Rajaraja Chola I through Rajendra Chola III, while the standing masonry temple dates to the 16th century.

Sthala katha — the legend

When King Mahabali could not deliver the third pace of land he had promised the dwarf Vamana, he offered his own head instead and was granted immortality for his humility, giving the place its name.

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